The 21 Best Concerts Coming to San Francisco This Summer

You could fill your calendar with bucket-list stadium tours, but we’ve got winery shows and under-the-radar bands too

Catch Kendrick, The Killers or MGK this summer in SF

Catch Kendrick, The Killers or MGK this summer. Or all three. That works too.

By Jenny Peters

Stadium tours rule the summer music scene in Northern California as bands hit the road to refill their depleted post-pandemic coffers. Now’s the time to see the OGs, from Bob Dylan to Poison, before they hang up their guitars, and to catch the current chart toppers. But if you’re looking for a dose of New Orleans at a winery or some under-the-radar gems, we’ve got those too.

These are the best concerts coming to highlight your action-packed summer.

Jack White, June 4, Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View

Because you never know who might join him on stage

Phil Lesh and Friends, June 4, Frost Amphitheater, Stanford

Because the Dead will never die

Sarah Kinsley with Gatlin, June 6, Cafe du Nord

Because “What If I Love You” is an anthem for the under-loved

Bob Dylan, June 9-11, Fox Theater, Oakland

Because this 81-year-old can still sell out a venue

San Francisco Jazz Festival featuring Gregory Porter, Dianne Reeves and more, June 8-19, multiple venues, Bay Area

Because seeing 44 concerts in 12 days is a challenge we wholeheartedly accept

Ólafur Arnalds, June 12, The Warfield

Because the Iceland-born, Indonesia-based producer is behind music you maybe can’t ID but immediately love

King Princess, July 15, The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley

Because someone you know will be singing “Talia” all summer

Machine Gun Kelly featuring Avril Lavigne and Willow, July 19, Oakland Arena

Because the Blonde Don is rockin’ out these days

Red Hot Chili Peppers with Beck and Thundercat, July 29, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara

Because admit it, this lineup rules

Ruthie Foster, July 31, Miner Auditorium at SFJAZZ Center

Because she’s the current Queen of the Blues

Outside Lands Festival with SZA, Phoebe Bridgers, Mitski and more, August 5-7, Golden Gate Park 

Because this festival’s vibe is only outdone by its consistently mind-blowing lineup

Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown with Tank and the Bangas, Big Freedia, George Porter and Dumpstaphunk, August 11, The Mountain Winery, Saratoga

Because when New Orleans comes West, ya gotta be in the vineyards

Tedeschi Trucks Band and Los Lobos, August 20, The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley

Because this is the best band you may ever see

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, August 21, The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley

Because you might as well spend the whole weekend at the Greek

The Killers, August 23, Chase Center, San Francisco

Because you cannot believe “When You Were Young” was released 16 years ago

The Weeknd, August 27, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara

Because you’re in the mood for a melancholy party

Kendrick Lamar, August 31, September 1, Oakland Arena

Because he’s definitely not retired

Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, September 7, Oracle Park

Because you really, really loved the ’80s

Lady Gaga, September 8, Oracle Park

Because she can do it all

Dave Matthews Band, September 17, Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View

Because you can still sing all of their hits

Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples, September 18, The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley

Because these two women are forces of nature, together and apart

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